Reading Assignment for Section 1.4: Critiques of Routine Activities Theory
Read the following subsection from our online textbook: Section 1.4: Critiques of Routine Activities Theory.
What You Will Learn
In this section, you will explore the main critiques of Routine Activities Theory (RAT), focusing on its overemphasis on opportunity and its limited attention to offender motivation. You’ll learn why RAT may struggle to explain variations in crime rates across different locations and times, and identify types of crimes that RAT may not effectively address, such as white-collar crime, cybercrime, and crimes of passion. Additionally, you will evaluate the strengths and weaknesses of RAT as a framework for crime prevention and understand how the COP System addresses some of these critiques by considering a broader range of factors.
Student Learning Outcomes for Section 1.4
- SLO 1: Discuss the main critiques of Routine Activities Theory (RAT), including its overemphasis on opportunity and limited focus on offender motivation.
- SLO 2: Explain how RAT may struggle to explain variations in crime rates across different locations and times.
- SLO 3: Identify the types of crimes for which RAT may not be readily applicable, such as white-collar crime, cybercrime, and crimes of passion.
- SLO 4: Evaluate the strengths and weaknesses of RAT as a theoretical framework for crime prevention.
- SLO 5: Describe how the COP System addresses some of the critiques of RAT by incorporating a broader understanding of opportunity, motivation, and social context.
Modification History File Created: 05/19/2024 Last Modified: 07/10/2024
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